High school students ditched class and took to the streets today in the second day of protests over proposed federal legislation that would make it a felony to be in the U.S. illegally.

Students from a half-dozen high schools and middle schools in the San Fernando Valley marched through the streets – some with umbrellas to protect them from a persistent drizzle – waving flags, chanting “Mexico, Mexico!” and urging other students to leave campus and join them.

“We want everyone to know that you can’t mess with us, you can’t stop us,” said Jon Garcia, a 12th-grader from Birmingham High School. “Even though we’re kids, even though it’s raining, we’re letting everyone know that we deserve to be heard.

“We will not stop until this bill is not passed. We will not drop this.”

Just before noon, about 40 protesters walked onto the San Diego (405) Freeway at Victory Boulevard, forcing the California Highway Patrol to shut down northbound lanes of the freeway. CHP officers escorted the students back to a school campus, and no arrests were made, LAPD Sgt. Dave Cueto said.

About 5,300 students walked out from middle schools and high schools citywide, despite lockdowns enforced by the district, LAUSD spokeswoman Susan Cox said. The crowd was much smaller than Monday’s massive 26,000-student walkout.

“With weather and traffic, we would really prefer these kids be in school, and maybe use their government civic classes to further dialogue about the proposed federal legislation,” Cox said.

At Verdugo Hills and Birmingham High schools, administrators organized forums on the immigration issue to allow students to address their views. At other campuses, teachers were urged to discuss the issue in class.

“So many kids didn’t know what this was about,” said Ken Cordero, dean of students at Van Nuys High School. “They just came to school on Monday and everyone was so walk out, so they just joined them.”

Dampened by the rain, today’s demonstrations were less festive than on Monday. Students chanted but did not engage the public, as they did the previous day. Few drivers honked horns in support, and business owners and residents did not stand outside and cheer.

“We’re doing this for our people,” said Vanessa Morataya, a 10th grade student from Birmingham High. “If we don’t fight this, who else is going to fight it?

“A lot of people are saying (the legislation) is going to be approved. We want to show them that we are a lot of people, and we’ll stand up for what we believe.”